Half time:  Newcastle 2 Coventry 1

52 mins Nigerian-born defender Celestine Babayaro cut in from the United left between a pair of defenders before unleashing a shot which took a slight deflection off Williams to beat Steele in the Gallowgate goal. He celebrated with a mini-Lua: 2.5 twists we think... 3-1

Full time: Newcastle 3 Coventry 1

Souness commented:

"We won the game comfortably. The way they set out to play with the one up front meant we were going to have a lot of the ball.

"We controlled it from start to finish. We had a sloppy four or five minutes just before half-time, but I think we looked tight, we looked compact and we knew what we were doing.

"The one disappointment apart from that five minutes would be that we didn't score enough goals. We had that much of the ball and when we've got the ball into areas that should be critical normally, we didn't pick the right pass.

"To have all that ball and only score three goals is a wee bit disappointing, but overall, I have to be happy. We had a new player in there, we've Stephen Carr back,  Babayaro just playing his second game and Patrick coming back after six weeks out injured, so we had some good performances.

"But I felt from the first minute, the way we started, there wasn't going to be a shock here today. It would have been nice if the three strikers had got goals today, but it wasn't to be.

"He (Faye) had an excellent game, but you have to remember that was a first division team we were playing, with all due respect to them. It will be more difficult when he's playing in the Premiership.

"He had a lot of the ball today, used it very well, but more importantly for me, he was there at the right time when we lost the ball.

"And that's why we've bought him, to be a defensive midfield player to fill the holes when our other midfield players are emptying them.

"'Other than one unscheduled trip to a police station, Kieron (Dyer) has been great for me Souness. He's got a great deal more than just pace. He is a cute little player who worked his socks off today.

"It would have been nice if all three strikers had got a goal, but it wasn't to be."

Celestine Babayaro commented:

"There's nothing like getting a goal in front of the Newcastle fans, and it was a great win for us as everyone knows how a cup game can go. I'm used to the back flip - this is how I express my feelings. I can't remember the last time I scored or the last time I got a good run of games.

"It took a deflection but at the end of the day it counted. A goal helps to make a good impression at a new club. I had a good game and hopefully it'll continue like that.

"In the system we played, the two full backs had to attack. It was what the manager wanted and I guess we gave it to him. I did the groin three days before the Arsenal game and I was gutted, - if you come to a new club you want to get on with it.

"That was mind blowing when I knew that I'd done my groin and watching the game on TV didn't help at all. I'm happy now I'm back again." 

New Coventry boss Micky Adams commented:

"I have to say that the fans were terrific. 

"The support was excellent and we thank them for that. They realise that we've got a struggle on our hands and we need them. We are in a relegation dogfight - I don't want to kid anyone and say that we're not but I have a lot of positives going into the Preston game.

"It was a fair result. To be honest, we are still learning lessons. I saw an improvement in the way we went about things compared to last week - particularly the way that we defended. Generally I'm pleased with the effort although class tells in the end. 

"Newcastle are a good bet for a run in the cup this season - particularly if my old mate Shearer is packing it in as he'll want to win it.

Sky Blues Chairman Mike McGinnity added:

"Freddy (Shepherd) asked me after the game to pass on his thanks to our supporters who he thought were magnificent throughout the game." 

"In fact, he said they were the best set of away supporters they have had at the club for some considerable time, which I think is a great compliment to our fans.

"There were more than 44,000 people there and our fans made up less than 10% of that and still out sang the Newcastle fans. If we could transfer that sort of enthusiasm back to Highfield Road I am sure it would be worth a good few points for us in the difficult weeks ahead. It would certainly be a big boost for the manager and players.

"Newcastle were streets ahead of us but that is hardly surprising when you consider they have a turnover of £100m compared to our £8m."

Former Newcastle Blue Star striker Andy Morrell told the Chronicle:

"It was the best five seconds of my career. I just went up for a header and when I landed my toe went into the ground and turned my ankle. I don't think it is broken although I will probably have an X-ray.

"It is a bit annoying to get injured so quickly in such a big game but you just have to get on with it.

"The lads did well and gave it all they could. But it shows the difference between the two leagues and you just have to keep the ball more against teams like that because it is hard when you have not got it.

"But I don't think it will have done our confidence any harm and we'll take the positives from it into the Preston game."

In a week that saw the club once again embroiled in controversy, thankfully this game was as uneventful as most had predicted, with no shocks or disputes on or off the field.

An almost sombre air had settled on SJP at kick-off, polite applause from home fans that greeted the team giving way to virtual silence. Up on Level 7 things were a bit more lively, with a sizeable visiting support intent on enjoying themselves regardless of events far below at relaid pitch level.

And for the first time, they were flanked by the self-styled Toon Ultras, who had banded together not to wrap scarves across their face and let off flares, but instead try a bit of DIY to create a singing section.

Handicapped by being in a part of the stadium out of sight and sound of them (no, not an executive box) we're unable to comment on their effort and effectiveness, but they failed to inspire any concerted support across the rest of the stadium. 

Full marks for effort though - and let's hope the stains come out of them bedsheets.

Maybe it was just that sort of game, or that sort of season, or that sort of manager....who knows, but there was an over-riding sense of resignation today, that the return of Terry McDermott to the fold didn't lighten. 

However, by the final whistle a home success had started to put smiles back on faces - funny how that's often the case - and a certain absent Welshman was slightly farther away from our thoughts that at 2.30pm when the team was read out. 

We'd speculated pre-match that there was the potential for some dispute in the stands at this game, as pro- and anti- Bellamy factions differed, but in the event this didn't appear to happen. 

However, people seemed preoccupied with the ongoing saga of the departing striker, to the extent that the signing of Amdy Faye and his appearance today were almost footnotes and fans sat in near-silence, as if lost in their own thoughts. 

It took an opening goal from Alan Shearer to begin to shake people up and lighten the mood, a well-taken effort from Shola Ameobi and almost total domination of possession for the opening forty minutes also something of a smoothing balm.

Of course though we had to have a custard pie moment and so it was that Harper failed to keep a clean sheet and City went in for a cuppa only one behind.

Nobody seemed that perturbed really though - with the tie looking to have been tied up within seven minutes of the restart, the crowd seemed to relax a little and start to stir themselves - stopping well short of chanting the manager's name, but giving Faye a good reception when he was withdrawn in the closing stages. 

There have been attempts by a few journalists to rehabilitate Kieron Dyer recently, with the Bellamy fallout almost seeming to add to this as the number 8 is referred to as having turned his career around - the implication being that Bellamy needs to take a leaf out of his book. 

And while we're happy to admit that he's improved markedly some from the listless displays we've seen this season, please forgive us though if we hang back from proclaiming him as a born-again toon hero just yet. 

Perhaps when he's shown some quality against a midfield more composed or talented that which City fielded - like say Arsenal last week, when it's a struggle to remember anything that he did.

As it is, the phrase flat track bully that has been used in connection with a certain Dutch striker is applicable to Dyer if he only turns it on against inferior opposition. 

Speaking of which.....playing in the hole (insert your own gag here) Patrick Kluivert swung a boot at a couple of efforts in the first half and hit the crossbar after the break, but hardly stamped his class on this particular affair. The odd nice touch yes, tormenting the Championship strugglers, no.

Inspired by Paddy's new hairdo being reminiscent of a certain Carl Cort, we checked out their relative Premiership goalscoring records for the club - the much-malinged CC managing 7 in 19 starts against PKs 4 from 12 starts to date. Hmmm.    

For us the most encouraging sight was seeing Faye's link play in and around the centre circle allow Jermaine Jenas to reprise the forward running of his earlier Newcastle career, free from the responsibilities that at times have burdened him.

With the game dealt with then, time to return to the issue that threatened to overshadow it.

We maintain that Souness can only be judged on what his team does. 

In that respect, the removal of Bellamy and fellow dissenter Olivier Bernard from the squad plus the acquisition of new faces is as important a part of that process as coaxing performances out of underachievers and clearing the treatment table. 

Given the paucity of other interested candidates - both at the time that Souness took over and at present - there doesn't appear to be any other logical course of action open to Freddy Shepherd - even if he were not to share his manager's hardline stance on the whole matter. 

There again, the word "logical" appears about as often together with "Newcastle United" as do the words "Cup Winners." 

Bellamy may have taken the low road to Souness's home nation in something approaching high dudgeon, but the fact he's out of sight is as much a boost to the chances of our boss remaining in post long enough to see him sold permanently, as victory over Chelsea in Round Five would be.

The alternative would have been a lingering, divisive situation that threatened to overshadow every shot, pass and miss at this club for the rest of the season and polarised opinion amongst supporters.  

Elements of the mood when Andy Cole was sold appear to have been replicated, except that Souness doesn't enjoy the level of support in the area that Kevin Keegan did. 

But we moved on from that episode and the same will happen again here - aided by the player in question playing in a different country.  

Quite frankly, if anyone is that desperate to support Bellamy then the Tyneside Celtic Supporters Club meet in the Irish Centre and run competitively-priced trips to Parkhead.

If the Souness model of Newcastle United ultimately fails as Robson's did, then we'll be left with a feeling of disappointment, not validation as seem to be the case from some quarters. 

And while Bellamy may yet return from Glasgow with a chestful of medals, like Robert, Shearer and the rest of those he leaves behind, he doesn't have any tied with black & white ribbons. 

If Souness is going to change that, then he has to be allowed to do his job, otherwise he may as well pack in now. 
   
Biffa

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